Supporting Scotland’s Social Work Services Workforce: UNISON is by far the largest union representing most Social Work and Social Care staff in Scotland. We represent Social Workers in all specialisms, residential workers, social care workers, OTs, home care staff and professional, admin and clerical support staff. We have a Social Work Issues Group (SWIG) with reps from branches across Scotland, specifically addressing Social Work issues. See also important information for workers registered with regulatory bodies.
News and updates
UNISON call to end the exploitation of our dedicated care workers
#stuc19 UNISON won backing from Congress to campaign against privatisation of health and social care services and for investment in ... Read More
Social work staff in West Dunbartonshire vote overwhelmingly to strike in a consultative ballot
Social work staff in West Dunbartonshire have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action, claiming unsafe practices and unacceptable workloads are ... Read More
Cuts to social work services are putting lives at risk, says UNISON, as strike action looms
Social workers in West Dunbartonshire are gearing up for strike action amid fears the service has reached crisis point. UNISON, ... Read More
UNISON Week Newsletter No: 250
Our weekly newsletter covering Fair Work In Care, Early Years, International Women's Day and more. ….… read here ... Read More
UNISON Scotland Newsletter No: 249
Our weekly newsletter covering the Scottish Parliament Debate on Carers, Local Government Benchmarking, Year of the Young Worker and our ... Read More
Registered with SSSC? – Don’t leave it too late to join UNISON
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Newsletter has reminded people “Don’t leave it too late to join a union” as ... Read More
Social Work publications
Manifesto for Social Work
Every day we all use the services provided by local government. Many people don’t even notice them: we take them ... Read More
Social Care (Self Directed Support) (Scotland) Bill
UNISON Scotland acknowledges that certain groups of service users, particularly physically disabled people, view direct payments and personalisation as a ... Read More
Mental Health Strategy 2012 – 2015
UNISON acknowledges the work that the current Scottish Government and previous administrations have undertaken to tackle the challenges that mental ... Read More
Care Integration Comments to Health & Sport Committee
We understand that at present the Government intends to integrate health and social care primarily through legislation to replace Community ... Read More
Inquiry into regulation of care for older people
UNISON Scotland believes a major mistake in the provision care of the elderly was to allow profit to be part ... Read More
Common Core of Skills, Knowledge, Understanding and Values for the Children’s Workforce
UNISON Scotland supports the introduction of a common core in principle. We are, however unclear about what exactly the common ... Read More
Keeping Safe in the Workplace
UNISON Scotland has launched a guide to help social workers stay safe in the workplace. The new guide – Keeping Safe in ... Read More
Care Integration statement
This statement covers UNISON Scotland’s initial response to proposals for the integration of care services in Scotland either through a ... Read More
A Strategy for Self Directed Support
UNISON Scotland is committed to the principle of the right to independent living for all care users. We therefore welcome ... Read More
Social Care Procurement Guidelines
UNISON Scotland welcomes the publication of Guidelines on social care procurement and can support some aspects of them. However, we ... Read More